Hello silent reader here.
I wanted to let everyone know that my spouse and I received our Permanent Residency! The long wait is finally over.
AOR: December 16, 2018
Type of Application: CEC Inland, Primary and dependent spouse
VO: Edmonton
Medicals passed: Jan. 19, 2018
Request for Canadian Background Check for spouse: Jan. 19, 2019
Date Canadian Background check provided: Feb. 10, 2019
Requested 1st GCMS Notes: April 3, 2019
Requested 2nd GCMS Notes: June 10, 2019
Golden Email: Sept. 27, 2019
Landing Interview: Oct. 3, 2019
As a head’s up for anyone who has to do a landing interview, make sure that you memorize the dates that you have entered and exited Canada as the answers need to match exactly what is on your application. That was a little nerve-racking as we had to quickly research in old emails to quickly find the information. I wish I would have just printed out the information and took it with me. Overall, the interview took about 15-20 minutes.
I have no idea why our file took 10 months to process, especially considering we got vetted by the Canadian government before we even got issued our work permits 2-3 years ago. Both of us have only lived in the US or Canada in the past 10 years and there were no gaps in our file or anything that could even remotely be open to interpretation. We both work for a large employer with a strong reputation in Canada, filed our tax returns in Canada with said employer, work permits are with said employer, and had absolutely no criminal history. Our jobs clearly fit the NOC description. We had plenty of funds and our file should have been very easy to verify. Every single background check was clean. Even the list of documents we were required to bring to the landing interview was very small: passports, recent pictures, the landing letters, and the RFPF payment receipt. Additionally, no other requests for additional documents were made. So I have no idea why our file took 10 months for IRCC to make a decision.
We engaged an immigration lawyer to review our file. When we spoke to our lawyers about possible next steps as the application was getting quite aged, they indicated that each time you raise a query or request GCMS notes, it slows down your application by 2 months. Because there are so many files the agents have to work on, they start with the files which have gone the longest without being touched. So if you submit a Case Specific Inquiry or request GCMS notes and force the agent to send you an answer, then it looks like an agent has recently touched your file even though all they did was copy and paste the same generic message to you. So the lawyers recommended just waiting patiently for the agent to work our file. Overall, I think this theory makes the most sense as it is based upon human nature and an actual Canadian Immigration Attorney’s experience. Why would an agent touch a file that had been touched in the past month when there are files that have not been touched in 3-5 months? At my old job, I used to use the same prioritization system on any files I worked on so it makes sense that IRCC agents would do the same, especially considering the massive pile of work they have.
I think the first mistake we made was raising our GCMS request in April 2019 which was approx. 4 months after we applied. I think that caused the agents to not touch our file again as it had looked like it had been recently worked on. Then I raised another GCMS request in June 2019, again causing it to look like someone worked on my file. After that I raised Case Specific inquiries every 2 weeks for 2-3 months constantly waiting for good news. I even contacted my MP 1x a month to have them request the Agent to provide updates. Looking back now, I wish I never would have requested any notes or raised any inquiries as I believe that slowed down my application as I was causing someone to look at my file every two weeks once I passed the 6 month mark. In the latter half of August to the end of September, I did not raise any queries and magically our file got worked on and we received PR.
Overall, I don’t understand how IRCC prioritizes their work nor do I understand why a straight-forward file like mine took so long. I have a friend who applied from India for himself and his spouse and they received PR after only one month. Another friend applied within Canada in March 2019 and received their answer in June 2019 and their VO was the Edmonton office (same as mine). I have absolutely no idea why our file was delayed other than someone decided somewhere to hide our file and not work on it. However, today, all I can feel is gratitude that someone finally took pity on us and decided to work on our file. We are very excited to start this new chapter in our lives and I sincerely hope that the rest of your hear some good news soon. I am sending positive thoughts your way and I hope everything goes well.